An analytical study to find the major factors behind the great smog of Delhi, 2016: Using fundamental data sciences

Abstract

Concerns over the alarming situation of Smog Pollution have come under the broad and current interests of masses since past few decades. Exposure to augmented levels of pollutants forming Photochemical Smog poses threat to human life, plants, animals and property as well. The effects of Smog on health can be felt instantaneously, ranging from minor pains to deadly pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer. The Great Smog of Delhi, 2016 was a manifestation of such situations. The air quality dipped to hazardous levels posing a health emergency situation. With an aim to know the intricacies of the problem, an Analytical study of the factors that contributed to Smog Pollution in Delhi was carried out using fundamental Data Sciences in R programming language. The study covers the major Pollutant analysis and Meteorological factors from the data of two pollution monitoring stations viz. R.K. Puram and Mandir Marg. Statistical Analysis and simple Linear Regression models were used for the correlation study between pollutants’ concentration levels and meteorological factors. Also, the comparative analysis was executed over the conditions of monitoring stations under study. It was found that the Particulate Matter (PM10) turned up as the major pollutant. Concentrations of pollutants are also affected by the meteorological factors. Less greenery and exposure to more vehicular pollution resulted in R.K. Puram being more polluted than Mandir Marg.